Dr. Kanesha Davis Waites, Mrs. Plus America 2012, currently resides in Glenn Heights, Texas and is very active in her community and school district. She commenced her educational career at the University of Prairie View A&M where she studied and received her bachelors degree with honors in the field of Psychology with a minor in Computer Engineering Technology. One year later Dr. Waites completed her masters’ degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After receiving her masters’ degree she was accepted into Argosy University Dallas School of Psychology where she pursued her doctorates degree in Clinical Psychology.

Through a phenomenal turn of events Dr. Waites directed her energy and passion towards volunteering her time to adolescents in a rural school district. With an optimistic outlook on her career she knew that her passion was greater than the expected outcome. By the second month of volunteering her services Dr. Waites was afforded the opportunity to enhance her skills and abilities as an educator and therapist through a chain of events. From volunteering to creating small groups for at risk students struggling with emotional, academic and leadership qualities lead her to pursue a career in the special education department as the district’s behavior specialist. After many years of arduous work Dr. Waites was prepared for the challenges that she gracefully masters as an educator, clinical psychologist and developer of future leaders.

As the behavior specialist, Dr. Waites continued to challenge her goals and redefine her passion in life. After six years of being doubted and told that she could never pursue her dreams within a school district, Dr. Waites continues to mold and create everlasting impressions on the lives of others. She has dedicated her endless service to children and their parents who deserve the very best. Dr. Waites plans to use her title to raise awareness of strengthening families and eliminating the stigma of mental health in the African American community while edifying women of equity to embrace their beauty both inside and out.

Dr. Waites has made a lasting impact on the lives she has come into contact with. The most profound work that she has put her heart and soul into has been the creation to strengthening families with prevention and intervention resources for her district. Dr. Waites was nominated for Who’s Who of America, Psi Chi National Honors Society, Outstanding Volunteer and Woman of Valor to name a few. She has also been a profound speaker for women and graduates where she had the opportunity to share her story of defeat to triumphant.

Dr. Waites has had the pleasure of collaborating with agencies such as, Psychological Solutions (that educates staff and parents with interventions and strategies to improve behavior and academics); Phoenix House Drug and Alcohol Awareness (that educates the students about positive actions); Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas (that raises awareness and knowledge of mental wellness); Lancaster Outreach Center, Timberlawn Mental Health Systems and Hickory Trails Rehabilitation Center (that educates the family and provides mental health services); Child and Family Guidance Center, Arrow Family Ministries and Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church The Turn Around Agenda (that provides therapy, in home support and educational opportunities for the entire family to successfully achieve academically, spiritually and emotionally).

Dr. Waites truly believes that education is as essential to one’s life as the nutrient water. She cannot imagine living in this world today without an education. Each day she is surrounded by examples of how quickly social networking, bullying and media are progressing and changing societal norms. She believes that all families should have a strong educational background and be afforded the same opportunities to become productive and responsible citizens. She also believes that knowledge is power because it enables an individual to make informed decisions that can affect not only their life, but others as well.

Dr. Waites’ mission and reign as Mrs. Plus America 2012 will consist of working closely with each family to provide them with an opportunity to fulfill their purpose in life. She will also model and teach women of equity how to unconditionally and willingly embrace their curves and experience in being apart of today’s society.

Dr. Kanesha Davis Waites can be contacted at MrsPlusAmerica2012@yahoo.com, Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MrsPlusAmerica